People: May 26, 1986

His otherworldly animals pop up in the most amazing places, so it was no surprise that Dr. Seuss, a.k.a. Theodor Geisel, should find his most famous fictional feline in front of the San Diego Museum of Art, about to be hoisted onto the roof. The 22-ft.-tall replica of the Cat in the Hat went on display last week to announce the opening of "Dr. Seuss from Then to Now," a retrospective of his nearly 60-year career that will travel over the next two years to Pittsburgh, New York City, Baltimore and New Orleans. Geisel, 82, whose latest best seller, You're Only Old Once!, is intended for youngsters of all ages, was more than pleased with the exhibition. "It finally gave me a chance to clean out my closet," he laughs. Now that is something to imagine, the spilling-all-over contents of the Seussian closet. Must be a book in there someplace.